What is Love ?

Love

I was asked to write on love. I offered the editor three pieces. She looked amused.

#1 :

Love

Bullshit

#2 :

Can make you cry

Lie

Wish you'd die

Love

#3 (and my favorite):

Love

Lies

Shit flies

Above

However negative I can be, they might even be too negative for me. So instead, I'll tell you a story.

At the age of 13, a virgin to the world in more ways than one, I met a man. He was 18. His name was Joey. At first sight, I fell in crush with his smile and dimples, with his big green eyes, with his nose, ears, etc... with something that gave him a half-evil/half-angel look.

He asked me my age. When I told him, he said it was fine. We went out. Everyday. A 6 p.m. curfew made it difficult, but we managed. Everyday for a week, every second we spent, I longed for his brown lips to kiss me. I was going from in crush to in lust. The he kissed me. However childish it may sound (I know I would do it again), I bumped into a wall of pleasure and awe. He laughed and called it a "knockout-kiss".

He was sweet, smart, kind and gentle. He was different from me in many ways and I loved it. I wanted to hear him sing silly songs, to see him dance techno, to hear his voice whisper sweet nothings in Spanish... I wanted him all, every single part of him, including the little things that irritated me. I was falling in like.

We saw each other every single day which was a miracle for me. Yet, the few hours we spent apart, I missed his smiles, laughs, stupid jokes, anecdotes... We'd talk politics, love, and more. I felt like I could be at my worst and he'd still make me feel like I outshone the rest of the world. He'd go out of his way to see me, during his break from work before he went home. I was falling in love.

I realized I had grown with him without sacrificing anything that made me me. I would have left him if it had made him smile, hurt someone if they had made him cry. I was willing to do anything to make him happy, however hurt it would have made me.

By Uwase R.

How do we know when we’re really in love?

I’ve always thought it was when butterflies took over your stomach
Or when you were noticed out of a room full of beautiful women,
because for him you’re perfect.

So with that thought, love would be like a rose unexpectedly put on
your pillow,
Or a declaration of affection taken out of a fairytale story book.

But I don’t think that’s love.
I’ve certainly never felt that love.

I guess for me, love is too simple.
Simple… 

Like taking a walk.
Because walks are boring.
Because walks are slow and meaningless.
Because it’s hard finding things to say while moving so slowly.

But when you love, when you really love, you don’t have to think of
what to say.
You can just stay quiet.
You can walk with that person in silence.

Love is silence.

Not talking, just being.
And knowing that all that’s important is that he’s by your side.
And when you know that he feels that same way.

I hardly ever say I love you.
But I take walks with my best friend
And there is no where in the entire world that I’d rather be...

In silence.

By Julie Morin